Viola grew up in Keller, Texas. His mother, Margaret, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that her son earned an engineering degree from the University of North Texas before joining the Navy, with the hopes of becoming a SEAL.

An injury during SEAL "hell week" prompted Viola to leave the Navy. He then joined the Army as an engineer sergeant with U.S. Army Special Forces. According to Margaret Viola:

“He was just a great guy and I’m not saying that because I’m his mother. This is what he wanted to do, and he kept trying and training.